We enable our Scouts to spend time with their families effortlessly by providing activities so FUN and enriching, everyone wants to come

There is no one more important in our Scouts’ lives than their parents.We recognize the incredible value of strong relationships between our Scouts and their parents. Therefore, we have created Scout Programs that are family oriented.We provide opportunities for our Scouts, their parents, multiple generations, and extended family members to spend time together effortlessly.We have also made Parents our Partners so that that those know our Scouts best are the ones who influence our programs.We urge parents to join their children in helping to build the teams of the first fully nondiscriminatory Scout Programs in the United States.

Family Oriented

The roots of our Scout Program run like that of a mighty Redwood.Their roots go four to six feet deep, but spread to two hundred and fifty feet from the tree.The Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA include depth of family, by including multiple generations and extended family, as a part of its unique inclusion of family oriented program activities.It is the wide root horizon of the Redwood that gives it stability.Similarly, we welcome the participation of all to embrace the rich diversity that gives America its stability.

The Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA are family-oriented.We go the extra mile to offer opportunities for shared experiences that are convenient for the entire family.This is one of the things that distinguish the Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA.We promote strong families and strengthen family values by making time spent together as easy as possible.

There was a time when time spent with family was a natural occurrence.Members of the family may have been doing separate things, but they were all under the same roof, and often in the same room.Interaction and family communication occurred naturally.Though, as modern Scout Programs, we certainly do not dispute the benefit of progress, parents and their children can often find themselves barely communicating in the modern world.Bobby is in his room playing a video game online with someone from Australia.He may know his new friend’s name, age, and if he has any pets, but he has barely said hello to his parents when he walked in.Tara does not have time to sit down with the family for dinner because she has to race to ballet class, and catches a ride with friends who drive through a fast food restaurant.Children’s lives have become so busy, it can seem like there are not enough hours in the day for parents and children communicate.

We provide a sense of balance to families in a hectic world.We help families spend time together by being co-ed, inclusive, and by providing activities every member of the family can enjoy.We are unique because we provide a space where young people can participate in a youth-oriented Scout program and also spend time with multiple generations and extended family members, often at the same time.

FUN for Everyone

This time in the life of youth also belongs to parents, multiple generations, and extended family members as well as to the child- therefore we believe everyone ought to be able to have FUN and do FUN things.

We believe that by having incredible activities, designed to appeal to our Scouts and their parents, and multiple generations and extended members of their, members of their families will also want to come to our programs.Choosing to participate in shared experiences with members of your family should not require effort, and in our Scout Programs, it does not.The parents and family members of our Scouts do not need to be invited, nor encouraged to attend our programs, rather the caliber of our activities has them wanting to attend.Additionally, we provide opportunities for shared experiences that encourage people who play a role in the life of our Scouts to enjoy our programs as well.

Therefore, we offer activities that bring multiple generations and extended family members together naturally, without stress.We provide programs that are FUN and appropriate for each member of the family, while creating opportunities for shared experiences.With the Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA, multiple generations and extended family members are always included.

We help families spend time together in three distinct ways.

Families and Scouts Participating in the Same Activity Together

One of those ways is by providing activities in which our Scouts and their families can participate both simultaneously and together.For example, on our family-oriented camping trips, Scouts and the members of their family spend time together and with other families.They can cook, fish, or hike together.

Another example is when our Scouts and their grandparents build soapbox derby cars together or explore the world of sound effects by participating in the re-creation of old radio shows.

We love to see parents and siblings, but also expect grandparents, aunts, half-siblings, step-uncles, and any of the countless other caring people who embrace the child as family to attend if they desire.When we appreciate the value of our children’s many family ties, these relationships increase in value.

Families Playing a Supportive Role in Scout Activities

Another way we help families spend time together is by offering activities for our Scouts in which multiple generations and extended members can play a supportive role.Just as in a youth league game, families do not play, but do play a supporting role.For instance, our awards programs are for our Scouts.Multiple generations and extended family members are on hand to cheer on their Scout!

Scouts also play football, ride mountain bikes, and participate in other activities in which families can be supportive spectators.

Families and Scouts Participating at the Same Time, But Not Together

We also offer activities in which our Scouts and multiple generations of family and extended family members participate simultaneously, but not together.A sensitivity to the balance between our Scouts as individuals and as members of a caring family is one the concepts that makes the Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA unique.

On pizza baking night, our Scouts and their family members each bake a pizza.Everyone has their own pizza, their own project.If Mom wants spinach on her pizza and Dad wants sausage on his pizza, that is fine.And if our Scouts want jellybeans, that is fine too!Family members might be across the room from one another, interacting with other families and other Scouts, while participating in the same activity.

We offer opportunities for shared experiences by getting multiple generations and extended family members together, while allowing them the freedom and independence to do their own thing.

Why Shared Experiences Are Important

The normal pattern for youth programs is for parents to drop off their children or the parent is either is a volunteer helper or in a supportive role, such as a fan from the bleachers.Their grandparents may not be present at all.In most youth programs children are dropped off, then picked them up an hour or two later, and, afterward the child says they had an ok time and that is as far as the conversation goes.Many times the reply is just a grunt, if they are listening at all.

Families want to talk, but often find they have little in common to talk about.Sometimes “having a discussion with parents” may not sound like much FUN.By developing opportunities for shared experiences, our Programs give families something FUN to discuss. After pizza night, Mom tells us how good her spinach was (maybe not!) and our Scout is full of laughs about eating melted jellybeans!

Perhaps a Scout learned about a new culture at one of our themed dinners, such as “Fiesta Night”, and wants to share that knowledge.FUN with a purpose allows families to share and discuss naturally, without forcing a conversation.Everyone attended the activity, and everyone has something to say!We encourage, in FUN-filled ways, dialogue between parents and their children.Therefore, we do more than talk about our interest in families; rather, we consciously promote strong families and strengthen family values.

Each and every person can and should have the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential.We appreciate that this is a shared responsibility at many levels, particularly parents and other family members.We are family oriented, promote strong families, and strengthen family values.Encouraging balanced and natural ways for families to spend more time together is even more important today than in prior generations.

For Our Scouts with Members of Their Families Who Cannot Attend

If our Scouts have members of their families who cannot participate, we make sure every Scout has a place.Another family who consistently participates is on hand to support that Scout at each and every event.No one is ever left out or made to feel uncomfortable.In the Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA, no Scout stands alone in the world.

Become a part of our family!Through the Scout Programs of Adventure Scouts USA, it is easy to strengthen family bonds and forge new ones, which last a lifetime.

Parents as Partners

We strive to be the foremost member service oriented Program of any kind in the United States.Our members come first.We exist to serve our Scouts.Consequently, we have made parents our partners.We want those who love our Scouts the most and know our Scouts the best to be the ones who influence our Scout Programs.

Our partnership with parents or guardians contributes to our ability to successfully promote strong families and strengthen family values.We not only want our partner/parent’s help, we need this help to better serve our Scouts.

Parents know their children – who they are, what they need, and what they like.We want parents to share their ideas with us so we can better serve our Scouts.If your children would like to see a change in our Scout Programs, let us know.If your children need extra care or resources, let us know.If your children have interests or activities they want to participate in, let us know.It is our job to serve your children, our Scouts.

Parental Participation

Of course we would love it if parents chose to become Team Counselors or Counselors for the teams which their children participate in.But we understand not everyone has the time or ability to take on such a large role.We urge parents to come to our meetings, get to know those who are supervising their children, and go on our family-oriented camping trips, as well as participating in our activities.

For those who just do not have the time however, we simply ask parents to be there for their children, to support them, help them and encourage them through positive reinforcement, rather than punishment, when possible.We ask parents to allow Scouts to participate for their own sake and find their way and their own likes and dislikes.Kids only get one childhood and we want our Scouts to participate and have FUN in their own way at their own pace.

Our Scouts and members are the reason we exist.We ask parents to join the adventure and help our Scouts live their dreams.